A lawsuit seeking to hold drugmakers and distributors responsible for a nationwide opioid epidemic should be allowed to move forward, a federal magistrate said in a preliminary ruling that may increase the likelihood of a settlement.

Companies including Johnson & Johnson and McKesson Corp. are defending lawsuits seeking to hold them responsible for opioid addictions that claim the lives of more than 100 Americans daily. More than 1,000 counties and cities are seeking billions of dollars in damages.